Technically, Skyline didn’t win a single event in Friday’s Ash Grove Invitational, but that didn’t stop the Tigers from turning several heads.
While a procedural error kept Skyline from the official results, the reigning Class 2 state championships have fully embraced the target on their backs showed just why they are considered the fastest small-school program in Missouri with an impressive, unofficial, showing at Ash Grove.
PHOTOS: ASH GROVE INVITATIONAL
“It’s kind of exciting for our kids because you can see the way that people look at them and talk about them,” said Skyline coach Brandon Shelby. “Kids get excited to run against our guys and it’s a good measuring stick and that’s something they shouldn’t take for granted. Don’t be arrogant about it, but that’s the utmost respect when people look at you that way. It’s kind of fun.”
Seniors Dylan Mountain, Madison Davis, Tyler Swearingin and Chipper Berry, as well as junior Shawn Bryan, help anchor one of the fastest group of sprinters in the Ozarks, regardless of class.
Davis unofficially won the 400M, while Skyline’s 4x100M and 4x200M relays also would have taken first place.
After a long basketball season saw Skyline advance to the Class 2 quarterfinals, this group of Tigers continues to work its way back into sprinting shape.
Practices have been anything but easy, but that’s also what has helped breed a competitive group; often times the guys running next to them in practice are as fast or faster than most guys they’ll seen at meets.
“It’s fun watching them practice and that’s probably the best part about it all,” said Shelby. “It makes them push each other. They compete every day in practice and sometimes the coaching staff will sit over there and watch them and it’s just cool because you don’t get to see guys like this a lot, especially at our level. We are very blessed to have kids like that.”
Shelby refuses to get caught up in his team’s chances of repeating its only boy state championship in school history, saying that he just wants the best his kids can give him and the results will take care of themselves.
“We want to be as good as we can be, whatever that is, and if we get to the point that we are competing for a state championship then great, but as long as we are getting the most out of ourselves then we’ll be happy,” said Shelby.
Keith, Ash Grove girls dominate
Ash Grove just understands defending its home turf.
Again, the Lady Pirates accepted the challenge, winning their own meet with an impressive 146-point output.
Leading the charge again was junior standout Mallory Keith, who took home four first-place finishes on the day.
The junior standout won the 400M (63.96) and helped Ash Grove take gold in the 4x100M (53.75), 4x200M (1:54.02) and 4x400M (4:32.58).
Senior Kayla Keene ran the anchor leg on the 4x100M and 4x200M, while winning the 100M (13.06) and 200M (27.95) individually.
Both Keith and Keene received all-state honors last year, but the goal this year is to accomplish something a little bigger.
“We’ve had a year of being under the radar and now we’re a little more comfortable; we know who we are and what we’re capable of,” said Keith. “We are ready this year. We want to get every girl to state and try to win a district championship.”
Helping to make that goal a reality will be a pair of underclassmen in freshman Allison Duncan and sophomore Ashley Rolewicz.
Duncan opened her high school career by winning the triple jump (28’5.5”) and running the 4x400M.
Rolewicz finished second to Keith in the 400M, while also competing in the 4x200M and 4x40M. Her emergence has forced Keith to become a better sprinter due to the constant competition in practice.
“She’s pushed me a lot because she’s fast,” said Keith. “She has helped bring out the best in me because of how fast she is. It’s better for both of us. I enjoy having her there a lot.”
Senior boy Brandon Watts also had a huge day, winning the 110M hurdles (15.95) and 300M hurdles (42.66), while finishing second in the 100M (11.19) and the 4x100M.
Molz, El Do runs well
At this point, Lance Molz isn’t sneaking up on anyone.
The reigning Class 3 200M state champ was expected to win sweep his open events on Friday and he did just that, winning the 100M (10.81) and 200M (22.76) without really being challenged.
But it was El Dorado Springs performance in the relays that was most impressive.
The Bulldogs also took home a first-place finish in the 4x100M (45.50).
After finishing as the runner-up in the 100M last spring, Molz is eager to return to Jefferson City and bring home another state championship. But, he is hoping this year’s trip to Jeff City won’t be a lonely one.
“This year we’ve really placed a lot more focus on our relays and trying to get more guys qualified for state,” said Molz. “Our numbers are better and we have a good foundation, now it’s just about building onto that and can maybe win a district title.”
Other notes…
Defending state champion Claire Workman continues to be the most dominant athlete in the Ozarks, winning the 1600M (5:30.43) and 3200M (11:23.82). She has a total of 10 state championships entering this spring.
Humansville junior Dustin Shoemaker (4:46.10), a two-time state runner-up in cross country, beat defending Class 2 1600M state champion Joe Stock (4:47.00) in one of the tightest races of the day. Stock also finished second in the 800m (2:09.71).
Crane freshman Olivia Doto won the discus (104’04”) and finished second in the shot put (32’2”), both marks would have qualified her for state last year, with her discus toss being good enough to earn all-state honors last year.
